In the groove

Published
12:00 am CST, Thursday, January 29, 2015

The Jacksonville High School J’ettes have definitely fallen into a groove, and that groove looks like it might take them to state.

On Feb. 7, the dance team will head to Bethalto to compete at 10:40 a.m. at Civic Memorial High School. Tiffany Hickox, one of the coaches of the J’ettes, said the team needs to score at least 80 points on their performance to qualify for the Team Dance Illinois 1A division category championship.

However, with the last scores the team got, 84.6 when it first competed and close to 90 on the last performance, the coach is confident on the team’s ability to make it to state.

“They went above and beyond,” Hickox said. “I’m very proud of this group. We’ve doubled in size from last year. It’s a very talented group, a strong set of officers and captains are leading them.”

The three captains, Lexi Middleton, Lauren Bezler and Kable Crow, all seniors, are all equally confident that they will come out on top.

“We’re proud of our scores this year, they’ve gone up a lot,” Middleton said. “I think this year we’re the strongest that we’ve been in a couple of years.

“I think this is the best year we’ve had in a long time and I think we have a really good chance at a state championship,” Bezler said. “Our team is twice its size this year. Last year we have 12 girls, now we have 25. A lot of good talent.”

Last year the girls got second place, the captains said, so they’re more driven than ever to give it all they’ve got and come out on top.

Scores are given by judges who judge the dancers on both technical and artistically, focusing on creativity, dance components, conveying a message, and theme.

This year’s theme for the pom team is based off of singer/songwriter Gwen Stefani and the kick team will focus on a theme based on Van Halen’s “Dreams.” Crow said the team worked together in collaboration with the coaches to decide this year’s theme and routine.

Hickox said the girls work hard putting together the routines and build it around what the judges like to see.

If the team makes it through the sectionals with the ideal score, the team will make their way on Feb. 14 to DeKalb to compete in the category championship at Northern Illinois University.